World Business Briefing | Europe: France: Telecom Concern To Cut Jobs

France Télécom said it planned to cut 8,000 jobs this year, mainly in France and mainly through early retirements. The company, which is based in Paris, said it would release details of the cutbacks, including estimated cost reductions, when it announced full-year 2004 results on Feb. 10. The company, which has about 200,000 employees worldwide, said it planned to hire 3,000 people, mostly in the technical, sales and marketing areas. France Télécom's chief executive, Thierry Breton, above, has been at pains to shake up and rejuvenate the work force. Reductions in employment this year will come after 16,000 cuts in 2003. John Tagliabue (NYT)

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A version of this article appears in print on February 1, 2005, on Page C00004 of the National edition with the headline: World Business Briefing | Europe: France: Telecom Concern To Cut Jobs. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe